Sciatica is a term many people have heard, yet not connected to their personal situation. If you’re experiencing sporadic lower back pain that extends to your hips and down one leg, you could be suffering from sciatica. A visit to Walter F. Mendoza, Chiropractor, PC, in Freeport, NY, can determine if you have this condition. The answers to the following FAQs from our Freeport chiropractor can provide greater insight into sciatica causes, symptoms, and treatment.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a condition that occurs when sciatic nerve roots become compressed, causing pain and discomfort in the lower part of your back, hips, and down one leg. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It serves as a channel for nerve signals to travel between your spinal cord and lower body. Compression of sciatic nerve roots can cause pain to shoot from your lower back down through your buttocks, hips, and legs.
What’s Causing My Sciatica?
Various factors can cause sciatica. Auto or workplace accidents can cause vertebra to shift out of place, put pressure on sciatic nerves, and cause pain. A herniated disc can compress nerve roots, leading to sciatica pain. Muscle spasms, pregnancy, obesity, and conditions like spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease have also been known to cause sciatica pain.
If you suffer from sciatica, you may experience painful episodes that last a few weeks and then stop, only to pick up again in the near future. Pain will continue sporadically until the source of your pain is eliminated. Depending on the severity of your condition, you may feel pain consistently.
How Do Chiropractors Treat the Pain Sciatica Causes?
Dr. Mendoza will perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine the source and extent of their pain before recommending treatment. As no two people are exactly alike, when it comes to sciatica, our chiropractor will customize a treatment plan to suit your specific healthcare needs. Your treatment may involve chiropractic adjustments to correct problems with misaligned vertebrae and herniated discs that are putting pressure on nerve roots and causing pain. We may also use hot/cold therapies, massage, and ultrasound to alleviate pain, restore mobility, and help your body heal.
Can Sciatica Be Prevented?
There are steps you can take to avoid sciatica pain. If you’re overweight, do what you can to lose excess pounds and maintain a good weight level. Strengthen muscle tone with corrective exercises to keep spinal vertebrae in alignment. Periodic adjustments can also help keep your body in balance to minimize your risk of sciatica.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Chiropractor in Freeport, NY
Call the office of Dr. Walter E Mendoza today at (516) 213-4610 for more information on sciatica or to schedule an appointment.